Monday - walking from Super Lioran to Valuejols

Today was a long walk, but despite that, fairly easy. The highlight was walking along the shores of the Reservoir de Naussac. The other highlight was meeting Christine in Langogne within half an hour of getting there. I had been walking for six days and she driving for two. I think that is rather marvellous.

 

The table below gives some statistics for the day gleaned from the GPS and the map. The map gives the starting and finishing elevations and the GPS the rest.

 

Statistics for the day Distance walked 18.1 miles Total time 7 hours 49 minutes Moving time 6 hours 25 minutes  Stopped time 1 hour 24 minutes  Moving average 2.8 mph Overall average 2.3 mph Starting elevation 1160 metres  End elevation 922 metres  Total ascent 753 metres  Maximum elevation 1252 metres

 

 

 

My illustrated diary for the day - Friday 8th June 2007

Set off at 8:30. It had been raining the night before, so the grass was wet and the path had many puddles. So soon my socks were soaked. Breakfast had been the usual bread, jam and coffee. My bill was €50.80.

The best hotel in Grandrieu	Grandrieu Church	Grandrieu from across the valley
Mist Morning near le Masel	Cobwebs	La Fage

But really it was an easy walk, just rather long. The main uphill sections were getting out of Grandrieu and of Auroux. Most of the rest was flattish or downhill. A lot was along good dirt tracks and very quiet tar roads. The country side is farmland, interspersed with forest and heath land.

Free range chickens at La Fage	Heathland above La Fage	A misty, moisty morning
It's springtime for pine trees	The GR wends its way between the fields	Wee tree

Deep in the Foret de Mercoire	Valley of the Chapeauroux near Auroux	Auroux
In Auroux	The chateau at Soulages	On the GR4

Nothing unusual happened - I saw a deer, possibly a roe, for the third day running. But I strongly suspect they were different deers. Scenically the highlight was coming to the Reservoir de Naussac. You approach it through thick forest and you are almost in the lake before you see it. The walk around the lake was mostly tedious but there is one nice, artificial, waterfall along the way.

Mushroom by the path	First view of the lake	The shore of the lake
The Reservoir de Naussac	The Reservoir de Naussac	La Cascade aux Fadarelles

The lake from the cascade	La Cascade aux Fadarelles	The Rue Haute, Langogne

On leaving the shores of the lake, I got to the D34 and followed it into Langogne to save time - it is an official variant of the GR! I got to the centre of town about 4:20, sat down in a pavement cafe, had a pression and tried to phone Chris. Eventually a text got through and she arrived at about 4:45. She had a couple of orange juices and we headed for "Au Pied du Suc" where we were welcomed, fed and sheltered.

 

The Route

 

Here is the vertical section of the route

 

 

 

Here is a larger view of Fridays route with some of the photos taken en route, at the spot they were taken. Click on the photo and see a larger version of the picture.